Systems and methods for cooling with variable-location air mover

Abstract

A system may include one or more heat-generating components, a chassis for enclosing the one or more heat-generating components, and a variable-location air mover subsystem comprising at least one air mover, a transmission system for varying a position of the at least one air mover relative to the chassis, and a control system. The control system may be configured to, in response to a condition for activating the at least one air mover, activate the at least one air mover and cause the at least one air mover to move from a first position relative to the chassis to a second position relative to the chassis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more heat-generating components;   a chassis for enclosing the one or more heat-generating components; and   a variable-location air mover subsystem comprising:
 at least one air mover; 
 a transmission system for varying a position of the at least one air mover relative to the chassis; and 
 a control system configured to, in response to a condition for activating the at least one air mover:
 activate the at least one air mover; and 
 cause the at least one air mover to move from a first position relative to the chassis to a second position relative to the chassis. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a fixed air mover subsystem having at least one second air mover with a fixed position relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a failure of one or more of the at least one second air mover. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second position is based on a location of the one or more of the at least one second air mover which failed. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a temperature of the system exceeding a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to cause the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in one axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to cause the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in two axes between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising, in a variable-location air mover subsystem comprising at least one air mover and a transmission system for varying a position of the at least one air mover relative to a chassis for enclosing one or more heat-generating components:
 determining if a condition for activating the at least one air mover has occurred; and   in response to occurrence of the condition for activating the at least one air mover:
 activating the at least one air mover; and 
 causing the at least one air mover to move from a first position relative to the chassis to a second position relative to the chassis. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a failure of one or more of at least one second air mover of a fixed air mover subsystem comprising the at least one second air mover wherein the at least one second air mover has a fixed position relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second position is based on a location of the one or more of the at least one second air mover which failed. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising causing the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in one axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising causing the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in two axes between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         14 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; and   computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to, in a variable-location air mover subsystem comprising at least one air mover and a transmission system for varying a position of the at least one air mover relative to a chassis for enclosing one or more heat-generating components:
 determine if a condition for activating the at least one air mover has occurred; and 
 in response to occurrence of the condition for activating the at least one air mover:
 activate the at least one air mover; and 
 cause the at least one air mover to move from a first position relative to the chassis to a second position relative to the chassis. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a failure of one or more of at least one second air mover of a fixed air mover subsystem comprising the at least one second air mover wherein the at least one second air mover has a fixed position relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the second position is based on a location of the one or more of the at least one second air mover which failed. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the condition for activating the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem comprises a temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 14 , the instructions for further causing the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in one axis between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 14 , the instructions for further causing the at least one air mover of the variable-location air mover subsystem to move in two axes between the first position and the second position.